So...Disclaimer? I've read so many stories with amazing disclaimers, but I can't think of anything good. Maybe next chapter.
Open Up
Harry nodded at his flabbergasted former headmaster.
"Yep. Good to know I'm still me. Would it be alright if I stepped through?"
The only answer Albus could give Harry was a nod as he stepped back and watched the boy's head disappear. The flames died down and the fireplace was once again left empty.
Seconds later the green flames appeared again, and a clearly underfed and unwashed Harry Potter stepped through the fireplace and into Hogwarts for what Albus Dumbledore thought was the first time.
Harry brushed a bit of soot off of his sleeves and onto the floor before looking up into the face of a man he hadn't seen in person for fifteen years. A man he had watched die and fall to the ground, his body broken. Albus was staring at him in shock, one of the few times in his life Harry had seen the man speechless.
Albus Dumbledore was wearing robes that could only be usual for him. Silver material of some sort shimmered around him, catching light and reflecting it almost like a mirror. His hair and beard were as long and as white as they had been the first time Harry had laid eyes on the man in the great hall so many years ago. Both were braided and held together magically. Harry could smell that a meal had recently been eaten, and idly wondered if he had interrupted it.
Staring around the office he had been in so many times, and destroyed once, Harry could hardly accept what his eyes were showing him. The sense of disbelief he had felt since waking that morning intensified and he stumbled to a chair in front of Albus' desk and sank into it.
Albus slowly made his way to his own chair behind the desk, his eyes on Harry all the while. Neither of them had spoken since the floo call had ended, and both seemed content to soak in the oddness of the moment.
Harry opened his eyes and looked up. The first thing he spotted was Fawkes sitting on his perch, staring directly at Harry.
"Fawkes," he whispered, almost to himself. Albus started. Fawkes titled his head and trilled softly, almost questioningly. Harry smiled at him and the bird trilled again before flying from his perch and landing on Harry's shoulder. Both of them stared into each others eyes before Fawkes butted his head against Harry's and trilled again, a bit louder, for several seconds.
When the phoenix ended his song, both Harry and Albus turned away from the bird and toward each other. Harry's anxiety had shifted into something closer to morbid curiosity. Albus was still staring incredulously at the boy and bird sitting in front of him. His jaw was slack and his glasses had almost fallen off his nose. His lips parted but all that came out was something between a grunt and a questioning sigh before they closed back up.
Harry almost smirked, never having seen Albus in such a state of confusion, but remembered after a moment why he was there.
"Albus," he started, "I've had quite the ridiculous morning."
A few seconds passed before Albus collected himself enough to respond.
"Harry Potter?" he asked for the second time in as many minutes.
"Yes, my name is Harry Potter," Harry responded, "but I'm guessing this isn't when you were expecting to see me again?"
So many questions were rushing through Albus' mind, but only one word would allow itself to escape his mouth.
"How?"
"How do I know who you are? How did I floo here? Or how do I know about being a wizard?"
Regaining control of his surprise, Albus closed his eyes for a moment and took a breath before looking back at the boy in front of him.
"Yes. I'd like an answer to each of those questions."
Harry paused for a moment before looking at Fawkes once more. The bird sang a note of reassurance and took off back to his perch.
"All I can tell you is what I know."
"No doubt," Albus responded, a hint of humor returning to his demeanor. Clasping his hands together on the desk in front of him, Albus waited expectantly. He was confident this would be an extremely intriguing tale.
"My name is Harry Potter. But I'm not the Harry Potter you left with the Dursley's nine years ago. Last night I went to sleep, but I wasn't at Privet Drive. I wasn't even anywhere near Little Whinging, and I most definitely was not ten years old."
Albus looked down at his hands, contemplating what this could mean. After a moment of thought, he looked up and into Harry's eyes.
"How old were you when you went to sleep yesterday evening, Harry?"
"I was thirty-one years old. And in my mind, I still am. I still have my memories, my knowledge, my skills... I've spent the past several hours trying to figure out exactly what's happened to me, but I can't even begin to explain it. The first person I thought of who might understand and not think I was a total nutter was you, Albus. Thank Merlin you were in your office, or I would be stuck at Arabella's feeding her army of cats."
Harry paused and looked Albus in the eye, half expecting to see disbelief. Instead he saw fear. It was rare he saw fear in the eyes of Albus Dumbledore, and when he had, it usually didn't turn out well.
"Albus, what are you thinking?"
Albus looked back into the eyes of the young boy sitting across from him. The boy was staring back into his eyes with a look of concern, familiarity and something else. He realized Harry was mirroring his fear back at him, and he looked away in shame.
"Do you know the paradox of time travel?"
"Yes I do, but this isn't any kind of time travel I'm familiar with. This had nothing to do with a time-turner or anything else...I fell asleep in my study last night and woke up in the cupboard under the stairs this morning."
"The cupboard?" Albus asked, confusion evident in his voice.
"Yes, the Dursley's had me sleep in the cupboard until I got my letter from Hogwarts. After that they moved me to Dudley's spare bedroom upstairs. Things have already changed. If I had traveled back in some way known to us, I wouldn't be ten years old. I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you right now, and I certainly wouldn't have ended up in that damned cupboard!"
Harry had almost shouted the last part, his frustration of the last several hours finally catching up to him. His pre-pubescent voice cracked into a higher pitch as he tried to control his volume and he stared back at Albus, his eyes challenging.
"How do I know you're truly Harry Potter?"
"Beyond the fact that Fawkes just approved of me?" he said it with a slight grin towards the phoenix, who chirped what sounded suspiciously like a laugh.
"Yes, I can see that Fawkes has taken a liking to you, and he is a very good judge of character. Is there any way you can prove to me that you are really Harry Potter?"
Harry mentally berated himself. Of course he needed proof! He thought furiously for a moment. Nothing he could tell Albus would convince him beyond a doubt that he was Harry Potter. He had to come up with proof, but what?
Albus had sat quietly, watching the the boy think through his options. He trusted Harry, and had very little doubt he spoke the truth. However, very little is not the same as no doubt at all.
"The Sorting Hat," Harry spoke suddenly.
"Pardon?"
Harry looked over at The Sorting Hat, which seemed to perk up a bit at hearing its name.
Harry continued, "The Sorting Hat can pass through any type of mental shield."
Albus nodded.
"Harry, I don't know of The Sorting Hat ever participating in a situation such as this," he said.
"I can't think of anyone participating in a situation such as this, can you?"
The two stared at each other for a moment before the silence was broken.
"The boy seems quite insistent," the voice from The Hat startled both of them and caused a quiet squawk from Fawkes. All three of them looked at The Hat, which had opened the tear it used to sing The Sorting Song every year.
Harry quickly turned to Albus again, begging with his eyes as the headmaster quietly appraised the hat.
"It seems that I am outvoted," he stated quietly as he rose silently and gently grasped The Hat by the tip and rim.
"Harry, I do not want you to think that I do not believe your story. It is just too...curious for me to do anything but make certain."
"Don't worry about it. Very little of my life has been normal. If this does confirm the truth for you, I'd like to discuss some things with you, afterward."
"Splendid. I look forward to it," Albus said it pleasantly enough, but right before he dropped The Hat onto the boys head, Harry gave him a look that he had never seen on a child, and it shook him to the core.
"You shouldn't," he said right as the Hat covered his eyes.
Ah, so you are indeed Harry Potter, said The Hat inside his head. Your tale is true, but whatever has happened to you was caused by magic I have no knowledge of and I can not find anything in your mind that has caused this.
So it wasn't some sort of device? asked Harry.
Not any device I can find in your memories. You truly have traveled back in time to your ten year old self.
What can I do to get home?
I do not believe there is anything you can do. The events that have led you here are unprecedented. Your mind is that of a grown man. Someone who has experienced life, love. A family. Sadly, there will be no going back.
Harry almost screamed out-loud at The Hat. Taking a deep breath, he waited for it to respond to Albus and explain that he was truly Harry Potter.
Well?
Yes, Mr. Potter? The Hat sounded perplexed and Harry worried it would do nothing to help him. After a moment, it spoke in his mind once again.
You must realize that time-travel is a difficult thing to understand for many. The time travel paradox has prevented any true abuse of knowledge of the future, as you well know.
Of course. This is obviously an exception to that rule, as things have already been changed drastically, Harry argued.
Indeed, Harry thought that The Hat must be laughing. Mr. Potter, anything you remember from your time will not occur in this reality. Friendships and families will change or never form at all. Your life will not exist as what you remember it to be and the people you meet will not become the people you once knew.
Are you sure there is no way to change this? To send me back to my own time? Harry pleaded.
There was no answer in his mind as The Hat spoke out-loud, "This is truly Harry Potter, Headmaster. He has somehow been sent back to his ten year old self using magic I have never seen nor experienced before, for reasons unknown to us all."
Albus lifted The Hat off of Harry's head and placed it back on its shelf. He then stepped back to the chair on Harry's right and sat down slowly, his eyes never leaving Harry's.
The words of The Sorting Hat rang through his head, repeating over and over. Your life will not exist as what you remember it to be.
"Is that enough to convince you?" Harry asked.
Still sitting in the chair, staring at Harry with a look of concern, Albus Dumbledore saw pain in the eyes of the boy.
"You have a family," he said.
"Had."
"I am truly sorry, Harry." Nothing else was said as the two sat. Harry closed his eyes and remained still, doing his best not to lose his temper or control. Clearing his mind as he had been taught after the war, while finally learning occulmency, Harry slowly calmed himself and tried to think rationally.
He opened his eyes and found Albus was still staring at him, sympathy obvious in his eyes.
"They're all gone," he said, staring at the man next to him. Albus gazed back and said the one word Harry knew he had to hear, but wanted nothing more than to ignore.
"Yes."
"There's nothing we - nothing I can do about this."
"No."
For several minutes nothing was said. Occasionally, Harry would close his eyes or look away. Albus' look never wavered and he stared at the boy in front of him.
Finally, Harry shut his eyes one last time and inhaled sharply. Holding his breath for a moment he exhaled through his teeth and looked up at Albus.
"Things are not going to be the same this time," said Harry.
"I am truly sorry." Albus repeated as he straightened in his chair.
"Don't be," said Harry. "I would have felt something beyond this...this empty feeling of loss. I would have known..." he trailed off.
Albus nodded, "I believe that they will never know anything has changed."
Harry looked at him, the question on his face plain.
Albus continued, "Time travel is a poorly understood subject. A situation such as this is unheard of. But, based on the fact that you are here, as you are, I do not believe you are truly in the same universe that you were last night. Well, last night for you. In your time."
"A different universe?" Harry asked, eyebrows raised.
"Yes. If this were truly the same universe you had left, we would not be sitting here speaking of it."
"Of course!" Harry said as understanding snapped into place.
Albus stood and wandered over to the door behind Fawkes' perch. As it silently slid open for him, Harry continued to sit in the chair, dumbfounded.
They were out there somewhere...safe. Alive.
Albus entered his private library, searching for a book. The lighting was dim as he flicked his hand, taking no notice when the lamps burst brighter, illuminating the entire room. Shelves of books stacked in messy rows greeted him. There seemed to be little order as many books lay open on the ground, pages fluttering as he glided past them. As he reached the back of the library, a short walk in a room little larger than his office, he slowed. Peering closely over the tops of his half-moon glasses, Albus ran his fingers along the spine of several worn books with faded titles.
After a few moments, his eyes alighted upon the tome for which he had been searching. A rather large, extremely faded and frayed book sat on the shelf just at eye level. He grasped it, extracting it from the shelves, and taking it back to his office where he knew a desperate man waited.
As the minutes passed, Harry wondered where Albus had gone. He sat in front of the Headmaster's desk, wavering back and forth between a feeling of understanding and devastation. Working himself into a frenzy of worry and anguish, some of the lighter objects in the room began to rattle. Fawkes, literally feeling his emotions, quickly flew to him and settled at the edge of the desk directly in front of Harry's lowered head.
When his hands began to pull at his hair, Harry's shoulders started to shake with the rest of the office. Albus entered the room and froze. He watched as his familiar tilted his head and observed Harry with what, to Albus at least, seemed to be love.
A soft chirp broke Harry out of his cycle of pain and self-loathing. He looked up to find Fawkes sitting directly in front of him, staring him in the eye. Harry had never seen a phoenix act this way. Fawkes was looking at him, into him. A sense of peace filled Harry. Fawkes chirped again, a bit louder. He sat back in the chair and let him hands fall into his lap as the phoenix continued to stare into his soul. Several seconds passed, then a minute. The rattling had stopped. Everything in the office was unnaturally still. Albus stood quietly, not daring to breath in an attempt to make this moment last as long as possible.
Harry noticed Albus in the doorway but did not look at him, his eyes trapped as Fawkes seemed to be reading his mind and replacing the loneliness with something else. He couldn't identify what he was feeling for several minutes as he looked into the black eyes of the phoenix.
A moment before Albus decided to move towards his chair, Fawkes flew into the air and extended his wings fully. The two wizards stared upward as Fawkes flew in a gentle circle and then began to sing. It began almost inaudibly, but Albus recognized it and based on the slight upturn of Harry's lips, he suspected the younger man was no stranger to the sound. As the speed of Fawkes' flight increased, so did the volume of the song. The warbling joy seemed to shake the room as Harry's misery had earlier, but when he looked around Albus saw nothing was moving. The world was still.
Harry closed his eyes. He was aware of nothing but the joy emanating from Fawkes. Albus watched the smile appear on Harry's face and could not help but smile himself. Slowly moving into his seat, he watched as Harry's face relaxed, followed by the rest of his body. Somehow, most likely magic Albus supposed with a suppressed grin, Harry was not sliding out of the chair. A tear slowly leaked out of the boy's eye and slid down his cheek. The volume of Fawkes' trilling increased until it was to the point that Albus almost had to cover his ears. If someone had been yelling, it was doubtful he would have been able to hear it.
Suddenly, Fawkes landed in the middle of the desk, directly between Albus and Harry. The song did not end, but the volume decreased and Harry opened his eyes. They were sparkling with tears.
Albus was smiling at them both. He knew for certain that the boy, the man, in front of him was truly of the light. Regardless of what had happened in the past, Harry would do the right thing, out of love if nothing else.
The song ended and Harry felt a sense of peace so strong he wanted it to last forever.
This must be what heaven is like, he thought, as the bird continued to look into his eyes.
Fawkes seemed to nod, then closed his eyes for a moment, burst into flame, and vanished.
Albus watched as Harry closed his eyes and cried silently. The smile on his face never wavered. After some time, Harry opened his eyes and looked at Albus, his green eyes almost glowing, piercing the last hope Albus had that the boy in front of him was truly a child.
"I saw them," he said. "Ginny and the boys were in the kitchen sitting at the table. They were eating breakfast. Omelets," Harry laughed, "and Ginny was holding Lily, feeding her."
Harry closed his eyes again, reliving the vision Fawkes had shown him. When he spoke again, they stayed shut.
"I saw them all around the table. Smiling, laughing, and then-" he opened his eyes and glanced at Albus before his vision blurred. "And then I saw myself. I was standing at the sink, cleaning the skillet and putting everything back where it belongs. Ginny... She, she smiled at me and said something. I couldn't hear her, but I saw myself laugh, and she smiled back. She was happy. They were all happy," he finished.
After taking a moment to collect himself, he smiled at Albus. The older man looked at him, beaming, eyes glistening.
"I think Fawkes may have resolved your distress much more ably than I, Harry," he said, holding out the book.
Vicis Eo Minae Magis Universum
"What's this?" Harry asked.
"It is, simply, a book related to your unique issue."
Harry stared at the tattered cover.
"'Time Travel Paradoxes and Multiple Universes'?" he said.
"Yes. I believe that this book may help you understand some of what has occurred today. Keep in mind that it is all theoretical. I have never heard of anyone experiencing an event such as the one in which we find ourselves currently immersed."
Harry nodded and glanced back down at the cover as he rubbed his face. It was green with white words carved into the cover. Brown cracks radiated throughout and white tufts of binding seemed to be trying to escape.
"Thank you. I have a feeling none of this will matter, though. There's no going back for me. I can only be thankful to Fawkes for allowing me to see my family. For letting me know that they are happy and that part of me is still there to look after them - and to love them."
"Harry, you will always love them."
The two men once again lapsed into silence. After several minutes of watching Harry and thinking, Albus spoke.
"Now, in this time, if there is anything I can do to help you I will be most pleased to do so."
Harry sat in silence, contemplating what had happened to him.
"Albus, there are many things you need to know. Things about me, and what is to come in the near future."
Harry watched the face of his old Headmaster as it changed from delighted to grim instantly.
"Voldemort," said Albus. It wasn't a question.
"Yes. He's not dead, but you already know that."
Albus sighed, "I have my suspicions. May I ask what knowledge you have of the subject?"
"I know the prophecy, to begin with," said Harry. He smiled as the man in front of him aquired a look of guilt.
"Harry-" Albus began, but was interrupted by a dismissive wave of Harry's hand.
"There's nothing to apologize for. Truly. I have dealt with years of guilt and anger at that prophecy. At you. At myself. Do you know what I finally learned? What I finally discovered about this so-called prophecy?"
Albus waited.
"It was Riddle's fault. Everything about it. His fear of death allowed that prophecy to be fulfilled. His determination to cheat death caused the fulfillment. He marked me," Harry revealed his scar, "and I killed him."
Albus' mouth dropped open for a moment and then he closed it so quickly his teeth clicked.
"You defeated him?"
"Yes, I killed Tom Riddle. At the end of what would have been my seventh year there was a battle here. They called it the Battle of Hogwarts. The Wizarding World has never been all that creative."
Harry grimaced, "I was renamed 'The Savior'. I can't say I ever really enjoyed it, though at least it's shorter than 'The-Chosen-One' or 'The-Boy-Who-Lived'."
Albus smiled. He had never liked hyphenated names, himself.
"It seems you have quite a bit of knowledge relating to Tom Riddle."
"You could say that. I also happen to know where his Horcruxes are."
The man in front of him paled. Harry smirked.
"Horcruxes? He made more than one?"
"Seven. Well, six at this point, not including the bit of his soul wandering around Albania at the moment."
Albus Dumbledore closed his eyes and concentrated on controlling his emotions. Both of his hands reached out and clasped the edge of the desk so tightly that his knuckles strained white.
All of this took place within seconds before Albus opened his eyes and gazed at Harry with a fierceness that startled the younger man.
"Six?" he said incredulously. "Merlin! I would never have-" he broke off and then stared at Harry, who was grinning at him across the desk.
"You know where they are," he said. Harry nodded and grinned even wider, a plan taking shape in his mind.
"Where?" Albus asked.
"Three we can find immediately, three others will be a little tricky-" he stopped, face paling. Albus noticed the boy was no longer grinning and rose, concerned.
"Harry?"
Sweeping around the desk silently, Albus approached the boy and took a seat in the neighboring chair.
"Albus," Harry whispered, "I was wrong. There are four we can find immediately. One of them may be a little bit harder to dispose of than the others, though."
The older man placed his hand on Harry's shoulder and waited for the explanation he knew was coming.
"After we destroyed the other six Horcruxes, I had to go into the Forbidden Forest and face Riddle." Harry paused, seemingly deep in thought before he spoke so suddenly that Albus jerked back a bit.
"Conjur a snake for me, please."
"A snake?" the suddenness of the request baffled him for a moment before he complied. Albus conjured a small garden snake. Harmless and green, the snake wound its way forward for a moment before stilling, seemingly confused as to where it was.
"Hello?" Harry hissed, and the snake started and quickly looked at him, its tongue lashing out quickly and repeatedly.
"You are a speaker?" The snake asked excitedly as Albus stared wide-eyed at the hissing display in front of him.
Harry turned and asked him to banish the snake. They both sat down heavily in the chairs and Harry turned to him after a moment.
"When Riddle tried to kill me as a baby, he gave me this scar, as you know. But, it isn't just a scar. It's a Horcrux. Because of this piece," Harry spat out the word, "of him in me, I'm a parselmouth. I also experience extreme pain when I'm near him as well as visions when he is feeling emotions. Powerful emotions."
"How did you destroy it previously?"
Harry snorted, "I let him kill me."
All of the control Albus had maintained since Harry Potter had flooed into his office came crashing down.
"WHAT?"
"Albus, I'm going to tell you quite a few shocking things and I need you to stay calm."
Albus looked at him with a great sense of unease. Harry was amused at the fact he had chastised the greatest wizard in the world for losing his composure.
"But first I think I could use a shower and some lunch. I may have eaten last night in my...universe, but my body has been with the Dursley's for the past nine years and something tells me I haven't eaten in awhile."
"Harry-"
Harry cut him off, "This is going to be a long day. We need to go through this information as quickly as possible and then contact some people. I have a plan, and between you and me and a few others I think we can end the second war before it begins, but I need you to trust me. I also need something to eat. Badly."
Albus nodded, reluctantly, and guided Harry into his private quarters. He showed him the bathroom and told him he would send for a house-elf to get him robes.
Soaking in the tub for several minutes, Harry relaxed for the first time that day. He thought of his family and sighed, a few more tears escaping. He cried not for his family, but for himself and what he would always miss. Knowing they were happy and that to them, nothing had changed made him feel better, but he wouldn't be there. Harry would never see his children go to Hogwarts and grow up in the world he and his friends had worked so hard to make better for them.
After washing his hair for the third time and finally feeling somewhat clean, Harry stepped out of the tub and glanced around for a towel and set of robes. With a soft crack a house-elf he didn't recognize appeared holding a bundle bigger than itself.
"Harry Potter, sir! Suzy brings towels and robes! Is there be anything else I can get Harry Potter, sir?"
Harry smiled at the elf after barely catching himself from covering up. He knew that the elf couldn't have cared less that he was naked, so he didn't let it bother him.
"Thank you, Suzy. Just leave them on the edge of the tub there, please."
"Absolutely, Harry Potter! You's a very polite wizard! Suzy help with anything you need."
"Great, thanks Suzy."
The elf popped back out of the bathroom and Harry dried off and changed into the robes she had brought. After he dressed, Harry made his way back to the headmaster's office. He spotted Albus sitting in his chair behind the desk, looking pensive. Knocking lightly on the door frame as he entered, he saw Albus smile and motion to the tray of food sitting across from him in front of Harry's chair. A selection of sandwiches and other snacks sat on the tray, as well as a plate of treacle tart, which caused Harry to grin.
"Welcome back, Harry. Please have a seat and we can discuss things of a less serious nature before we get back to business, as they say," said Albus.
As they sat and Harry ate, he asked Albus about the Ministry, who was present and their positions.
"I know the structure in my time, but many things changed when Kingsley became Minister after the war, so I need to know who is available at the moment."
Albus grinned, "Kingsley? Shacklebolt?" At Harry's nod he continued, "I always knew he was destined for something more than the Aurors. How long did he remain in office?"
"Um...as of last night?" Harry asked.
"Indeed! He was elected to a third term? I always believed that Amelia Bones would be..." he trailed off at the look on Harry's face.
"Madame Bones was likely to be appointed, but she was murdered by Death Eaters before the vote after Fudge was booted," he said.
"Ah, I see."
Harry finished up his lunch and another elf appeared and vanished with the tray. They both sat back in their chairs, Harry drinking a butterbeer and Albus sipping a pumpkin juice.
"Albus," Harry began, and the Headmaster put his drink on the desk hearing the tone in his voice, "The three Horcruxes we will easily be able to locate are items that once belonged to the Founders of Hogwarts."
The look on the older mans face was so absurd that Harry had trouble keeping his laughter to himself. When Albus realized the response he was causing he quickly composed himself and flashed an embarrassed grin.
"The first, and closest, is Ravenclaw's Diadem. It is actually very close. Inside this castle in fact."
"Harry-"
"The Diadem is, by far, the least interesting of the three in our situation."
"Well, I supposed I should not be surprised by anything you have to tell me. You do, after all, have knowledge of the future that I could only dream of...if only to prevent the many mistakes I am sure I will make."
Harry leaned forward and looked the old man directly in the eye.
"We all make mistakes. Every day we do something that we can look back on and say, 'Gee, if only'. But some mistakes that were made in...my universe can be prevented now. The second Horcrux is Slytherin's Locket. It's located in Black Manor at number 12 Grimmauld Place."
"The Black family always was aligned with the dark, that is no surprise to me...but I shall assume there is a twist to this part of the story," he said it with a small smile, but the eagerness in his eyes grabbed at Harry, convincing him not to drag it out. There was no need.
"Regulus Black was a Death Eater, but he renounced them after experiencing the horrors that went along with some of their more...unsavory practices. He removed the Locket when he discovered what it was and meant to destroy it. He was killed before he could accomplish that, though. Sirius Black can allow us entry without any problems, I assure you."
Harry waited for the denial. The statements accusing Sirius of being Riddle's right hand man. The apologies that his Godfather was a mass-murderer. His assumptions were met with silence as Albus waited for him to continue, dread in his eyes.
"Sirius Black is innocent of everything he has been accused of and sits rotting away in Azkaban, sentenced without trial." Harry had trouble controlling the bitterness. His Godfather was a strong man, but he could still remember, from the short time he knew him, the haunted eyes of Sirius and the continuous denial of nightmares.
"Who was your parents secret-keeper?" Albus asked the question gently, but the response was most definitely not.
"Peter Pettigrew!" Harry hissed, "He has been hiding out as the Weasley family's pet rat for the past nine years and has been in this castle with Percy for the past four."
Albus sat back and waved for Harry to continue.
Harry took a calming breath. They would discuss freeing Sirius soon enough.
"The third Horcrux is in Little Hangleton, in the Gaunt...hovel, I suppose would be the best word for it."
"I've suspected as much," said Albus.
"So there you go, three of the six. All of them are simple enough to get to. Although, the ring does have a nasty curse or two attached to it. In fact, in my universe you fell victim to the curse itself."
Albus raised an eyebrow, "Did I?"
"You did. It began in your hand and was delayed long enough for you to share enough information with me so that I could complete the destruction of the Horcruxes."
Harry knew what the next question would be, and knew that it would distract his former Headmaster greatly, perhaps as badly as he himself had been distracted during the hunt for the Horcruxes. Now, with more information, he hoped for the ability to study the Hallows in detail without the threat of Riddle and his own imminent death.
"Why would I put on a ring I must have known to be cursed, Harry? What dark magic could compel me to do such a thing?" Albus was curious. Could Riddle have discovered a compulsion charm so strong that he would not have thought to search for it, or been unable to resist it?
"There was no magic beyond the protections in the house surrounding the ring and the curse on the ring itself. Beyond the Horcrux, it was just a ring...the stone embedded in the ring was something else."
He paused, seeing the curiosity in Albus' eyes and knew that his desire to become the master of the Deathly Hallows would have to be curbed before it could become overwhelming.
"You put the ring on because you wanted to see your family again. You wanted to see Ariana." Harry waited.
"Ariana? But, how is that-" Albus blinked, then closed his mouth. He blinked again and looked at Harry.
"The Resurrection Stone?" he said, barely audible.
"Yes."
Albus closed his eyes, thinking quickly. As he reviewed everything from their conversations since Harry had flooed into the office, he came to the only conclusion he could.
"You are the master of the Hallows."
Harry shook his head immediately.
"No, at least not anymore. I was for a short time. The Stone ended up somewhere in the Forest. Your wand," he pointed to the wand lying on the desk in front of Albus, "I buried with you after I took it from Riddle in the Final Battle."
"And the cloak?"
"The cloak I kept. It does belong to the Potter family, after all," he said it with a slight grin and Albus would have smiled back if he hadn't been so distracted.
After receiving no noticeable reaction, Harry cleared his throat. Albus focused his eyes and they swiveled toward Harry.
"Albus, it won't work."
They looked at each other.
"I believe you," he said, softly.
"Thank you. You tried putting it on and activating it, but all that happened was you lost your hand...and eventually your life."
"The curse eventually took hold?" he asked.
"No. Professor Snape killed you the night we located the original location of the Locket. The cave where Riddle terrorized those children while he was still at the orphanage."
"Severus?"
Harry nodded.
"Why?"
"You asked him to. Made him swear to do it, actually. You both knew you were dying and you felt he would be most valuable as a spy. You were right, as usual."
Harry laughed at this point and shook his head ruefully.
"You once told me your guesses were rather good, and I happen to agree with you. We all make mistakes, and in your position you've made, and will continue to make, many. But you always do what you feel is right. You learn from your mistakes, something I have spent my life trying to emulate."
Albus Dumbledore was shocked. This boy- No. He had to stop looking at him as a boy. This man in front of him knew so many of his secrets. He seemed to know him better than any person alive, except perhaps his brother, and yet he still respected him.
"What do you think we should do?"
Now it was Harry's turn to be shocked. Albus Dumbledore was asking him for advice. The man in front of him was old. There was no twinkle in his eye. His voice was shaky and barely rose above a whisper. Harry knew it was time to act and that he had a chance to make this world, this universe, a better place. He would end the war before it could start. He wouldn't let Riddle ruin any more lives.
Collecting himself, he stood and motioned for Albus to join him.
"Let's go get the Diadem first and then we'll discuss my plan."
"Your plan?" said Albus.
"Well, let's say it's more of a plan for a plan," Harry evaded.
"Ah," Albus replied. "Should I assume that we will discuss the other two Horcruxes afterward?"
"Well, other than this one," he pointed at his forehead, "they will probably be fairly difficult to obtain. We'll need some help. But yes, we'll discuss them after we get the Diadem."
As the two of them began to walk out of the room, Harry stopped at the door and turned around.
"Albus, is there anyone else in the castle?"
"Yes, some of the staff stay over every summer. I believe Professors Sprout and Flitwick are on hand, though they are most likely busy at the moment."
"Do you think it's really a good idea for anyone to see me in the castle right now?" said Harry.
Albus paused, "I suppose you would like to reacquire your family's cloak."
"That would be great. Is it here?" he asked.
"Yes," Albus turned to walk back to his private quarters, "I shall collect it for you."
After he reappeared, Harry covered himself with his invisibility cloak and they walked out the Headmaster's office together. They went up the stairs, passing moving portraits who called out their greetings to the headmaster. As they reached the seventh floor and strolled up to the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, Harry grabbed the arm of the older man standing next to him and spoke.
"I'm going to open a door. You'd remember this as a room full of sparkling chamber pots."
"Ah, I do remember that. I have always been curious where that room had gone, but I suppose you are about to enlighten me."
As Harry paced back and forth in front of the wall, Albus watched silently. Suddenly, a door appeared.
"This is the Room of Requirement. If you focus enough on what you need, Hogwarts will provide it."
Harry walked up to the doors and opened them. Holding it for Albus, the two men entered the room full of hidden objects that had been growing for a millennia.
